Also, IMO the elephant in the room of Soylent is that not all bodies, metabolic systems, are identical. We are a species in transition, not some kind of stable, predictable system. We experience a level of mutations between generations - which is how we stumbled onto larger frontal cortex and physical diversity. Yet, we perversely hallucinate that we are all identical and have identical needs.
This is a salient point. Think about how writing software for one platform (much less highly optimizing it for that platform) doesn't guarantee cross compatibility. Soylent might work for a group of 20 something white males in California, but what about folks from other walks of life?
Then the recipe will adapt, simple as that; just like code does.
He's not trying to make this a highly optimized formula, he's trying to make it a widely used base platform with the minimal required pieces that work across platforms.
I think there is enough overlap between people we can find a common formula that will work for 90% of people on a 90% of meals basis (regular food already does this).
Yes, the current formula probably will not survive contact with the broader reality, but then he'll just make a v2.
And until v2 happens? What is with malnutrition, or possible worse effects?
When it comes to my body, my health and these subjects, I tend to err on the side of safety, instead on the side of something, that is "scientifically tested" like soylent.
I know, with our food industry nowadays it is, that we are the rats in the longtime testing lab.
But that is the reason, I changed my foodsources. And it is the reason I would never buy soylent.
The other reason is, that I really see more in food, then giving fuel to my body. It is an experience of cooking, of creating, of being creative, an experience of taste, of texture, a social experience and so much more.
So there you have the two reasons. The missing scientific rigor/testing. The arrogance, to believe, what he did is best for all and better then everything till now. And my personal take on food.
Seems to apply to just about every social movement in the context of any problem domain, really. People are far too cavalier about universalizing their own needs and preferences.
Let name this "the typical body fallacy"
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